Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-05-30
CLUB THE VICIOUS THING TO DEATH.

The attempt is made in certain quarters
to create the impression that the RECORD
UNION is opposed to division of large
grants and great land-holdings, or their
taxation upon precisely the same plane
with other lands of like value.
If there is any one topic more than an
other that this journal has all these years
been earnest and persistent in debating af-
Tentatively and urging reform OF, it is
the evil which is so strikingly exemplified
by the wall, practically, of land grants
purposefully and cruelty withheld from
subdivision, that are barrier to COM
munity prosperity in many sections
For that vicious and purposefully false
charge, therefore, it remains only to give
the lie fatty and in so many words.
When such influences say that the
REcoRD-UNIoN makes "most violent OPP
position to every effort put forth that
would tend in the line of such consumma
ton" i. e., the subdivision of large land
grants, they lie, knowing they lie, for the
very lust of lying, and because of their
close relationship to "the father of lies"
However, any public influences that
will be guilty of promulgating such false
hood are not abashed by the lie being
given, but will continue to viciously re-
iterate the mendacious statement.
These combining walls of undivided land
grants have been what they are these
many years. They are not new; nor are
the efforts to secure the subdivision of the
lands. The progress of Sacramento has
been made in the face of such obstacles,
and probably nothing more significantly
breaches of the splendid advantages of
this city than the fact, that despite the
great land holdings the toll upon bridges
and roads-now happily abated the bad
roads of winter that shut off large part of
the country from US; fire, flood and the
assaults of business rivals, etc, Sacramento
and county have gone steadily onward,
gaining in independence, credit, local bust
hess, wide-reaching commerce and expand
ing trade Importance
There is not county in the State
to-day that is so inviting, has lands under
better cultivation, raises as great variety
of crops or as good, has more prosperous
producers, or better society than the
couaty of Sacramento. When, therefore,
it is said over and again, showing that the
repetition echoes the desire of the utterer
OF the absurd exclamation, ''there can be
no boom in this county until the large
land-holdings have been subdivided," the
mere twaddle of hobby is chartered. We
can have boom, we are having a boom
with some great land holdings un-
divided; we will have a far greater
boom when they are cut up, and laid open
to the newcomer to buy in small parcels.
That this subdivision may be speedily
accomplished, all well-wishers of the city
and county desire, and no legitimate efforts
to that end should be neglected, no matter
how often tried without success.
Once for all, whoever has the brazen
efirontery, and unblushing mendacity TO
aver, as some constituencies influences have,
that this journal 'worls to defeat every
proposition" tending to the end all desire
tto-wit; the opening up of large lsnd-hold-
ings to settlement for home seekers)
simply lies by the card, and justifes the
suspicion that it is done for the selfish
purpose OF diverting public attention from
present progressive movements among the
people.
The subdivision of grants and large land
holdings must some time be accomplished
and the sooner the better Whatever can
be done now should be done. If examina-
ton shows that lands are not assessed
sufficiently high, and develops that sworn
officials have been guilty of wroag in the
matter, they should be called to account,
and those to whom is given the power of
reviewing and correcting the assessments
should be required to do their full duty in
the premises.
Let us ascertain the exact facts, for not
all large land-holdings are withheld from
subdivision. For instance, it is known
that the Cardwell tract of 5000 acres, all
under cultivation, has been some time in
the market in small lots, and the owner is
persistently endeavoring to sell it of in
small parcels on easy terms and publicity
has been extensively given TO the fact So.
toe. the Cox & Clarke tract, known as the
San Juan grant, has been offered for sale,
and is still in the market, and the owners
are warm friends of subdivision and advo-
cate small holdings. Mrs. McCauley is
anxious to dispose of her several thousand
acres. and is offering them in small lots.